NIGA 2012 (Day 2)

After meeting Wes Studi, Adam Beach, and other celebrities during our first day at NIGA, there was no letup on our second day.

Walking into the convention center, we met Cedric Cromwell, chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag, and his entourage.

Comedy duo Williams and Ree, aka the Indian and the White Guy, stopped by our booth. My pal Victor cracked them up so much that they thought he might be a comedian too.

I saw Gray "Litefoot" Davis, new president of NCAIED, talking business with some attendees.

Dennis Banks, co-founder of AIM, was there for some reason--perhaps to tout his documentary. Victor thanked Banks for inspiring him at a school assembly 33 years ago.

Sonny Skyhawk pigeonholed me for some talk about Hollywood's failure to cast Native actors to play Natives. He doesn't think Johnny Depp should play Tonto in the Lone Ranger movie.

In fact, his committee investigated Depp to see if he has any enrolled Cherokees in his family tree. Apparently not. That doesn't mean Depp is fibbing about having a Cherokee great-grandmother, but it casts more doubt on his worthiness to play a Native.

Walking to our car through the Gaslamp Quarter, we saw Irene Bedard eating at a sidewalk cafe.

We had a late lunch at Lou & Mickey's in the Gaslamp Quarter. From our table, we saw Adam Beach walking by, talking on his cellphone. Victor called him over and he joined us for a few minutes.

More photos: NIGA (Day 2)--April 4, 2012

For more on NIGA, see Pix of NIGA 2011 and Report on NIGA 2011.

Below:  Sonny Skyhawk and Dennis Banks.